Why Choose Financely? Exploring the Power of a Global, Vetted Lender Network for Your Deal
Disclaimer: This blog is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to provide, invest in, or purchase any financial instruments. Financely is a registered Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) that specializes exclusively in private and corporate loans. We work solely with accredited investors and qualified borrowers. All financing solutions presented herein are subject to our internal due diligence process and the specific terms and conditions of each transaction. The content in this blog should not be relied upon as financial, legal, or tax advice; you are encouraged to consult with independent professional advisors before making any decisions. Financely does not guarantee funding, investment returns, or deal success, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risk and uncertainties. By accessing this blog, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms. All information is provided “as is” without any express or implied warranty of accuracy or completeness, and Financely expressly disclaims any liability for any direct or indirect losses arising from your use or reliance upon this material.
Financely connects borrowers with a global network of credible lenders for trade finance, project finance (including commercial real estate), and other structured funding needs. Our platform’s lender network is diverse — ranging from traditional banks to private credit funds and specialized finance providers — all vetted for reliability and professionalism.
Every lender undergoes due diligence and KYC checks, and many are regulated institutions or licensed funds. We emphasize transparency and credibility at every step: deals are curated by our analysts, shared under confidentiality agreements, and matched only with lenders whose mandates and risk appetite align with the transaction.
Below is an overview of the types of lenders on our platform, including their typical structures, deal sizes, risk appetites, and how we work with each.
Traditional Banks (Commercial & Investment Banks)
Structure: These are regulated financial institutions (often commercial banks or investment banks) with dedicated trade finance and project finance teams. They are subject to strict banking regulations and capital requirements, which adds an extra layer of credibility and oversight.
Typical Deal Size: Banks on our platform generally prefer medium to large transactions. They commonly fund deals in the millions up to hundreds of millions of dollars, especially for project finance. For trade finance, banks might handle instruments like letters of credit or import/export loans that facilitate transactions usually starting from mid six-figures and up, often focusing on larger corporate needs.
Risk Appetite: Banks tend to have a conservative risk profile. They favor borrowers with solid credit, collateral, and track records. In trade finance, banks typically finance self-liquidating, short-term transactions with low default rates. In project finance, they often participate in senior debt for infrastructure or real estate projects that have stable cash flow forecasts. Their credit committees require thorough due diligence and adherence to global banking standards, so they usually engage in deals that meet high compliance and creditworthiness criteria.
How We Work with Them: Financely works closely with banking partners by structuring deals that meet bank requirements and presenting them in a bank-friendly format. We often involve investment bankers to underwrite or pre-structure loans before banks ever see them.
This means by the time a deal reaches a bank via our platform, it’s been rigorously analyzed and packaged with necessary documentation and risk assessments. We ensure banks sign any necessary mandate or non-disclosure agreements before reviewing detailed client information, preserving confidentiality.
Banks in our network appreciate that we pre-screen transactions and align them with their lending criteria, saving them time. In many cases, we will coordinate syndicated funding — for example, inviting multiple banks to co-fund a large project — and handle the distribution of deal information in a controlled manner.
Because these lenders are heavily regulated, Financely’s role includes making sure all compliance checks (KYC/AML, sanction screening, etc.) are completed as part of the process. Our banking partners lend credibility to deals by ensuring structures are sound; as noted, we leverage trusted bank underwriting to structure deals for long-term success.
Borrowers benefit from this rigorous bank involvement, as it often results in competitive terms and confidence that the financing is being provided by well-capitalized, reputable institutions.
Institutional Private Credit Funds & Investors
Structure: This category includes private debt funds, mezzanine lenders, insurance or pension fund investment arms, and other institutional investors focused on debt financing. These lenders are not banks, but are often licensed asset managers or funds registered in financial centers. They pool capital from investors (e.g. through a fund structure) to deploy into loans or structured notes.
Many have specific mandates such as trade finance funds, infrastructure debt funds, or real estate debt funds. They operate under regulatory frameworks applicable to investment funds and often have internal credit committees similar to banks.
Typical Deal Size: Private credit funds on Financely’s platform cover a wide range of deal sizes. Some funds specialize in mid-market deals (for example, $1–10 million trade finance transactions or $5–50 million project financings), while larger institutional investors can fund $50 million up to $200+ million in a single deal.
Financely’s network is tiered to accommodate this range — we have funds interested in smaller-ticket trade financing (often for short-term, high-yield opportunities) as well as big institutional players capable of taking on large project finance tranches. This breadth is reflected in our lender network, which advertises access to opportunities from $500K to $200M+.
Risk Appetite: Institutional lenders have varied risk appetites depending on their investment strategy. In general, private funds are often more flexible than banks in structuring and risk-taking, since they seek higher returns. For instance, a trade finance fund might finance transactions in emerging markets or second-tier borrowers that banks shy away from, but they will mitigate risk via credit insurance or collateral. A mezzanine debt fund might take on subordinated project debt (with higher interest) that fills a gap above what banks will lend.
These lenders perform their own due diligence but are open to complex or innovative structures if the risk/reward balance is acceptable. Still, they maintain professionalism — they assess credit risk, require covenants or guarantees, and often specialize in sectors (energy, real estate, commodities, etc.) they understand deeply. Their willingness to accept slightly higher risk deals means borrowers might get funding here when banks say no, albeit at higher interest rates or with more equity participation.
How We Work with Them: Financely actively curates deals to match each fund’s mandate and criteria. During our onboarding of lenders, funds tell us their sector preferences, geographic focus, deal size range, and return targets. We use this profile to precisely match relevant deals to them.
For example, if a fund only invests in renewable energy projects above $20M, we will only present such deals to that fund.
This precision avoids wasting the borrower’s or the lender’s time. Before a deal is shown to a fund, our team has already compiled a detailed information package (executive summary, financial model, etc.) and ensured the basics meet the fund’s requirements. We often sign mandate agreements or at least formal engagement letters with these institutional lenders for specific deals — meaning the fund indicates preliminary interest and commits to a deeper look under confidentiality.
Financely conducts its own due diligence on these lenders as well: we verify track records and regulatory standing (many are SEC-registered or have FCA-regulated entities, for example) before including them in our network. By partnering with licensed third-party broker-dealers when needed (for instance, for distributing private placement notes to certain investors), we ensure that larger transactions are handled in compliance with securities laws.
Throughout the process, we maintain open communication between the borrower and the fund, often facilitating Q&A or conference calls via our platform. The presence of these institutional players offers borrowers a chance at creative financing structures — such as structured notes, revenue participation loans, or longer-tenor loans — that banks might not offer, all with the assurance that these lenders have been vetted and are financially reputable.
Export Credit Agencies & Development Finance Institutions
Structure: Some transactions, especially in infrastructure and cross-border projects, involve government-affiliated lenders such as Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
ECAs are typically national or multilateral agencies that provide loans, guarantees, or insurance to promote exports or overseas development (for example, an export-import bank or an export credit guarantee agency).
DFIs include entities like the International Finance Corporation (IFC) or regional development banks that fund projects with developmental impact. These are not traditional private lenders; they are publicly backed and operate under policy mandates (e.g. supporting projects in emerging markets or sustainable development initiatives).
Typical Deal Size: ECAs and DFIs usually engage in larger, long-term projects. They often participate in project finance deals that can range anywhere from around $10–20 million for smaller development projects, up to hundreds of millions (or even billions) for major infrastructure. On our platform, we might involve an ECA or DFI as part of the funding mix for qualifying projects (for example, a $50M renewable energy project in an emerging market might secure $10M in DFI funds alongside private lenders).
These institutions generally don’t fund small trade deals directly (except through guarantee programs), but they can provide insurance or guarantees for trade finance transactions, effectively enhancing the credit so that banks or funds will lend.
Risk Appetite: As public or quasi-public entities, ECAs/DFIs have a mandate to take on risk that commercial lenders might avoid, in order to achieve policy objectives (such as promoting exports, or funding projects in less-developed regions). They are willing to finance projects in higher-risk countries or sectors, but they do so under stringent conditions. Their risk appetite is carefully managed through requirements like sovereign guarantees, political risk insurance, or strong covenants.
Essentially, they will step in to fill risk gaps — for instance, covering political risk, or lending on longer tenors (10–15+ year loans) that banks find too long. However, they require extensive due diligence and often lengthy approval processes. These lenders are credible and thorough: they’ll evaluate the developmental impact, environmental and social safeguards, and compliance with international standards before approving a deal.
How We Work with Them: Financely engages ECAs and DFIs usually in an arranged partnership role. If a borrower’s project could benefit from an export credit guarantee or a DFI loan (for example, an African infrastructure project or a capital equipment export sale), we will coordinate early with the relevant agency. Our team prepares the necessary documentation and impact assessments to meet these institutions’ criteria.
We might help the borrower apply for an ECA cover or approach a DFI program while simultaneously pitching the deal to private lenders. In practice, an ECA might provide a guarantee that makes a trade finance deal bankable — we facilitate this by preparing the application and structuring the transaction so it meets ECA conditions.
With DFIs, we often align the project with the institution’s focus (say renewable energy or SME development) and guide the client through the DFI’s due diligence process. Financely’s role is to bridge the gap between the private lenders and the public institutions: we ensure that any commitments by an ECA/DFI are well-integrated into the financing structure (e.g. making sure a DFI loan’s terms work in tandem with a commercial loan tranche).
These agencies add tremendous credibility to a deal — having, for instance, a World Bank-affiliated lender on board can reassure other investors. That said, we are transparent with clients about the longer timelines and complex paperwork involved when including these lenders.
We only pursue this route if it’s likely to materially improve the financing terms or viability of the project. All engagements with ECAs/DFIs are handled with formal agreements and government-level due diligence, with Financely coordinating between the borrower, the agency, and the other lenders.
Alternative & Specialty Finance Providers
Structure: Beyond traditional institutions, Financely’s platform includes alternative lenders and specialty finance firms. These can be fintech-driven lenders, supply chain finance companies, factoring firms, non-bank finance companies (NBFCs), and even family office lending vehicles. They are typically privately owned finance companies focused on niche lending markets — for example, a trade finance fintech that provides invoice financing, or a real estate debt fund that specializes in bridge loans for commercial properties.
Some may be regulated as finance companies or licensed lenders in their jurisdictions, while others operate via investor marketplaces. We ensure any such lender is properly registered or has a verifiable track record before joining our network.
Typical Deal Size: Specialty finance providers often handle small to mid-sized deals that larger institutions might overlook. On our platform, these lenders cover funding needs as low as a few hundred thousand dollars (for instance, a $500K purchase order financing or a $1M short-term trade loan) up to mid-level deals in the tens of millions. Fintech lenders and factors typically operate in the lower range (hundreds of thousands to a few million per transaction, often revolving credit for trade receivables).
Some specialty debt funds or NBFCs might go higher, say up to $10–20 million for the right opportunity, especially in real estate bridge financing or asset-based lending. This category fills the gap for transactions that are too small or too quick for banks, ensuring that even smaller trade deals or time-sensitive financings can find backing.
Risk Appetite: Alternative lenders generally have a higher risk tolerance but price accordingly. They may finance borrowers with shorter credit histories or take collateral that banks wouldn’t (like second liens, inventory, or unconfirmed purchase orders) — but in return, they often charge higher interest rates or fees. Many of these lenders focus on the underlying assets or transaction rather than just the borrower’s balance sheet. For example, a factoring company cares about the credit quality of the buyer who will pay the invoice, and a real estate bridge lender cares primarily about the property value and exit strategy.
Their risk appetite is niche-specific: a supply chain finance platform might be very comfortable financing an exporter with confirmed orders (even if the exporter is a small company) but would avoid unproven projects. Overall, they move faster and accept more risk per deal than a bank, but within their specialized domain they manage risk with robust data, insurance, or by closely monitoring the collateral.
How We Work with Them: Financely integrates these specialty lenders by leveraging our understanding of their niche criteria and speed. We usually maintain an active list of such lenders with details on exactly what scenarios they fund (e.g. “Fintech Lender A will advance up to 80% of invoice value for invoices due within 90 days, in OECD countries” or “Lender B offers 12-month mezzanine loans for commercial real estate up to 70% LTV”). When a borrower comes with a need that fits one of these niches, we quickly match them to the appropriate lender.
Often, the engagement with alternative lenders is rapid: we might share a summary of the deal and within days get indicative terms, since these lenders often have streamlined credit processes.
We still perform our own vetting — ensuring the lender is legitimate and has the capital ready. Borrowers can take comfort that even with these non-bank players, Financely has done due diligence: many of these firms are fintech startups or private companies with limited public info, so we verify their funding sources or references before allowing them on the platform. We also make sure the terms they offer are fair and clearly explained. If a deal proceeds, we coordinate introductions but remain involved to help negotiate terms and ensure the lender follows through on their commitment.
All confidential information is shared securely (through our portal) only after the lender has agreed to proceed in principle. By working with these agile lenders, we can often get funding in place faster than through traditional routes — a crucial advantage for time-sensitive trade deals. And because these lenders compete in our network, borrowers might receive multiple offers, which helps in securing competitive pricing even in the alternative lending space.
Ensuring Lender Credibility and Qualification
Every lender category above shares a common thread: Financely’s emphasis on credibility and due diligence. We recognize that as a borrower you need assurance that any funding offer is genuine and comes from a trustworthy source. That’s why Financely qualifies each lender in our network before they ever see a client’s deal. Our compliance team conducts background checks on new lenders, verifying regulatory status (e.g. banking licenses, fund registrations) and track record.
We typically sign agreements or mandates with our lenders that outline how we work together — including confidentiality terms to protect your information and an understanding of the lender’s capacity and interest areas. This means when you submit a deal, it won’t be shopped randomly; it will be shown in a controlled manner to pre-approved funding partners who have signed on to our process. We also perform rigorous due diligence on the deals themselves before presenting to lenders.
By vetting the business plan, financials, and collateral upfront, we filter out incomplete or non-credible deals, which in turn gives lenders confidence in opportunities from Financely. The result is a more efficient, trusted matching process for all parties.
Borrowers can move forward knowing that the counterparties introduced by Financely — be it a major bank or a specialized fund — are credible institutions that have passed multiple checks. This commitment to quality and transparency is central to how we operate and is a key reason clients trust our platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Borrowers
Below we address some common questions borrowers have about our process and how we operate. We believe in being transparent and direct, so we hope these answers provide clarity and reassurance as you consider working with Financely.
Q: How does Financely match my deal with the right lender?
A: We match deals to lenders through a combination of expert curation and technology-driven profiling. When you submit your application, our team first reviews the specifics of your deal (sector, amount, collateral, location, etc.) and determines the key risk and structuring features. We then compare these against the preferences of lenders in our network. Each lender has provided us their investment criteria — for example, some only fund trade finance up to 60 days, others specialize in energy projects in Latin America, and so on. Our platform uses these criteria to precision-match deals to those lenders most likely to fund them.
In practice, that means if you’re seeking a $5 million import/export loan, we’ll likely match you with, say, three to five lenders (such as a trade finance fund and a couple of banks) that have a history or interest in that exact type of trade.
Those lenders are then given access to your deal profile in our secure portal (under NDA) and can quickly indicate interest. We don’t broadcast your deal to the entire world — we target the right funding sources based on fit. This targeted matching not only saves time but also protects your information by sharing it only with relevant, pre-vetted parties. In short, deals are matched based on criteria alignment and prior due diligence, ensuring that when a lender reviews your opportunity, it’s squarely within their wheelhouse.
Q: How can I be sure the process and the lenders are credible?
A: We understand that trust is critical when seeking funding. Financely’s process is built to reassure you at every step. First, all lenders in our network are pre-screened and vetted — we verify that they are legitimate financial institutions or funds with a proven track record. Many of them are regulated entities (banks overseen by central banks, funds regulated by the SEC or FCA, etc.), or are otherwise reputable firms we have done business with before.
We also have formal agreements with our lenders that include confidentiality and ethical conduct, so they treat your information with care and respect. Second, our internal team includes former bankers and industry experts who perform due diligence on your deal before presenting it.
This means by the time a lender sees it, the data and structure have been checked for credibility, which in turn makes the lenders more confident in engaging. We operate with transparency: you will know what steps are happening (e.g. which stage of due diligence or lender review we are in), and we encourage open communication.
For larger transactions, we often involve licensed third-party advisors (such as FINRA-registered broker-dealers or FCA-authorized firms) to assist in distribution — this adds another layer of oversight and credibility to the process. Finally, our company’s role is advisory and matchmaking; we are not a fly-by-night broker. We are a consulting firm that collaborates with well-known banks, legal counsel, and professionals to get deals done.
Clients take comfort in the fact that we do not handle their money directly (funds flow from lender to borrower securely, usually through escrow or bank channels), and we do not promise anything we can’t deliver. If a deal doesn’t meet our quality standards, we will tell you upfront rather than proceeding irresponsibly.
All these measures — vetting lenders, protecting information, partnering with regulated entities, and maintaining honest communication — are in place to reassure you that our process is secure, professional, and credible.
Q: How are your fees structured, and why do you charge them?
A: Our fee structure is designed to be transparent and aligned with successful outcomes. Typically, we charge a minimal upfront advisory fee to begin work on a deal. This upfront fee is a flat amount (often in the low thousands of dollars) that covers initial due diligence, analysis, and document preparation for your transaction.
We keep this as low as possible — enough to cover our costs and ensure the client is committed, but not prohibitive. Once we take on a mandate, the main fee we earn is a success fee payable upon closing of the funding.
This success fee is usually a percentage of the financed amount or a fixed arrangement based on the deal size, agreed in advance in our term sheet. We only collect that if we successfully secure you the funding needed, which aligns our incentive with yours. In other words, the bulk of our compensation is contingent on delivering results.
We believe this is fair: you pay a small amount upfront for our time and effort, and the rest only when you receive the capital. For larger or more complex transactions, part of our fee might involve external licensed partners — for example, if we engage a broker-dealer to help place a project bond, their fees (which are also success-based) are transparently included in the agreement.
We will clearly outline all fees in a term sheet before you formally engage us, so there are no surprises. Every fee is justified by the work involved — from financial modeling to lender outreach, legal coordination, and closing execution — and we are happy to break down the value you get at each stage. Our goal is to be cost-effective while mobilizing the right expertise to secure your funding.
Q: How long does it take to get funding through Financely?
A: The timeline can vary depending on the type of financing and how prepared the borrower is, but we can give general expectations. Trade finance deals (such as import/export loans or working capital for confirmed orders) are relatively fast-moving. Typically, it takes about 30 to 60 days from application to having funds in hand.
This timeline accounts for due diligence, matching with a lender, getting credit approval, and completing documentation.
In some simpler cases, especially if documents are ready and the deal is straightforward, it could be a few weeks; more complex trade deals might push toward the upper end (2 months). Project finance and commercial real estate deals naturally take longer due to their complexity. For these larger, structured financings, 3 to 6 months is a common range to reach financial close.
In detail, the process involves initial term sheets, exhaustive due diligence (technical, legal, environmental studies for projects), syndication or investor placement, and legal closing. If a project is especially large or requires government approvals, it could extend beyond 6 months, but we keep clients informed if any such delays arise.
It’s important to note that client preparedness heavily influences timing. When borrowers come to us with complete and accurate documentation, and respond quickly to information requests, the process moves much faster. Conversely, if gathering documents takes weeks or if there are compliance issues to resolve, the timeline can stretch out.
We will give you a timeline estimate after our initial analysis of your deal. Rest assured, we prioritize efficiency — our procedures are built for speed where possible — but without cutting the necessary due diligence corners that protect you and the lender.
We find that being thorough upfront actually saves time later by preventing rework. In summary, trade finance = a month or two, project finance = a few months, with exact timing dictated by deal complexity and preparation level.
Q: What information or documents do I need to provide?
A: To evaluate and secure financing for your deal, we’ll need a package of key documents and information from you. The exact requirements vary by transaction type, but generally for any trade or project finance application we ask for at least the following: a deal summary or business plan (a clear description of the transaction or project, including how funds will be used and repaid), financial statements for your company (ideally audited, or at minimum the past 2–3 years of income statements, balance sheets, cash flows), and details on the parties involved (your company profile, management resumes, ownership structure, and any partners or buyers/sellers in a trade deal).
If it’s a project finance or real estate deal, we’ll also need project-specific documents like feasibility studies, projections, project budgets, real estate appraisals, permits or licenses, and so on. For trade finance deals, we often ask for copies of the commercial contracts or proforma invoices, purchase orders, letters of credit, or warehouse receipts — basically whatever documents underpin the trade. Collateral information is also important: if you’re pledging assets (inventory, property, equipment), we’ll need documents evidencing those assets and their value.
To comply with regulations, we’ll require identification documents and compliance information (KYC) on the main principals of the borrower (passports or corporate registration documents, proof of address, etc.) — this is standard for any financial transaction today. Don’t be overwhelmed by the list: our team will provide you a checklist and will assist in preparing and organizing these documents.
Part of our advisory service is helping you present a clean, lender-ready package. In fact, deals often succeed or fail based on documentation quality, so we work with you to get it right. Generally, if you can provide the core financials and a solid summary initially, we can start the process and then guide you on any additional paperwork needed as we engage with potential lenders.
Q: What happens if Financely can’t work on my deal or it doesn’t get funded?
A: We aim to assess upfront whether we can add value to your funding search. In the initial inquiry stage, if we determine your deal is outside our scope or unlikely to attract our lenders (for example, it’s too small, too early-stage, or not in a sector we serve), we will let you know right away rather than proceeding and wasting your time.
In some cases, we might provide some brief guidance or refer you to other avenues, but we will be honest if we aren’t the right fit. If we do take on your deal and, after our best efforts, it doesn’t secure funding, here’s what happens: firstly, any success fee is not applicable because no funding closed — you would never pay a success fee if the deal doesn’t fund.
The upfront advisory or retainer fees you paid cover the work we performed (such as financial analysis, preparing documents, reaching out to lenders), so those are typically non-refundable, as is standard for advisory services. However, you will have the benefit of all the deliverables and insights we produced during the process.
We’ll also communicate the reasons the deal didn’t work out — for instance, if lenders uniformly gave a certain feedback (e.g. “the project needs equity injection” or “the company’s financials were too weak”), we relay that to you so you understand the roadblocks.
No one can guarantee funding approval, and while we strive for a high success rate, there are deals that don’t come to fruition. In such cases, you at least gain an expert evaluation of your proposal and can often address the issues for future attempts. Finally, if a deal cannot be funded in its current form, we might discuss alternatives with you: perhaps restructuring the request, waiting until certain conditions improve, or exploring a different financing product.
If it’s simply not feasible, we’ll close the engagement professionally and you’re free to seek financing elsewhere — there’s no long-term obligation. Our reputation is built on integrity, so if we can’t deliver, we won’t string you along. We believe in earning our fee only when real results are achieved, and we’ll be upfront and supportive even in a scenario where we have to step back from a deal.
